Research and Development of Content to Support Homecare Tracker Software Applications for Massage Therapy

在拜访注册按摩师（RMTs）之间进行规定的家庭护理活动和锻炼是治疗和恢复过程的重要组成部分。然而，许多患者由于以下原因未能遵守家庭护理活动：不记住指定的活动，没有完成建议的重复次数和练习时间，缺乏动力，以及在RMT的书面指示令人困惑时感到沮丧。为了应对这些挑战，基洛纳医疗按摩（KMM）于2018年与奥肯那根学院（OC）合作开发了一个原型软件应用程序，以帮助支持、监控和跟踪被规定参加家庭护理活动的客户。这个应用研究项目包括开发、测试和评估桌面和移动软件应用程序，为少数肌肉骨骼疾病提供家庭护理活动：肩周炎、足底筋膜炎和紧张性头痛伴颈部疼痛。桌面应用程序通过为患有上述肌肉骨骼疾病的患者提供一系列适当的家庭护理活动来支持rmt。这款移动应用为患者提供支持，为他们提供预定的家庭护理活动提醒、活动视频指导、增强康复的提示，以及向RMT提供规定活动反馈的能力。对rmt和客户的原型测试显示，90%的人会推荐其他人使用这些应用程序。基于这些积极的成果，KMM寻求再次与OC合作，进一步开发、扩展和完善应用程序。该项目的科学和技术目标是通过研究和确定与按摩治疗实践相关的其他肌肉骨骼状况和家庭护理活动，包括教学视频，在最初应用程序的成功基础上再创辉煌。KMM的好处包括能够使用最新的技术手段更有效地与客户接触，帮助改善和保持他们的健康和健康。这一创新将为KMM提供按摩治疗行业的竞争优势，因为它是第一家为客户提供这种在线按摩治疗特定的家庭护理跟踪服务的诊所。

Performing prescribed homecare activities and exercises between visits to Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs) is an essential part of the healing and recovery process. However, many patients fail to comply with their homecare activities due to a number of reasons: not remembering assigned activities, not doing the recommended number of repetitions and time duration for exercises, a lack of motivation and frustration following confusing written instructions from their RMT. To address these challenges, Kelowna Medical Massage (KMM) engaged with Okanagan College (OC) in 2018 to develop a prototype software application to help support, monitor and track clients who are prescribed homecare activities. This applied research project included development, testing and evaluation of desktop and mobile software apps providing homecare activities for a small number of musculoskeletal conditions: frozen shoulder, plantar fasciitis and tension headaches with neck pain. The desktop app supported RMTs by providing a selection of appropriate homecare activities for patients with the above musculoskeletal conditions. The mobile app supported patients by providing them with access to scheduled homecare activity reminders, video instructions for activities, tips to enhance recovery and the ability to provide feedback on prescribed activities to their RMT. Prototype testing with RMTs and clients revealed that 90% would recommend the use of these apps to others. Based on these positive outcomes, KMM seeks to again engage with OC to further develop, expand and refine the apps. The scientific and technical objectives of this project are to build on the success of the initial apps by researching and identifying additional musculoskeletal conditions and homecare activities, including instructional videos, relevant to massage therapy practice. Benefits to KMM include the ability to more effectively engage with clients using the latest technological means to help improve and maintain their health and wellness. This innovation will provide KMM with a competitive advantage in the massage therapy industry by being the first clinic to provide this type of online massage therapy-specific, homecare tracking service for clients.